1. The interpretation of a statute is a question of law over which an appellate court has
unlimited review. An appellate court is not bound by the district court's interpretation of a
statute.

2. The Uniform Mandatory Disposition of Detainers Act (UMDDA), K.S.A. 22-4301
et seq.,
allows persons imprisoned in Kansas to request final disposition of other Kansas charges
pending against them. According to the UMDDA, once a prisoner's detainer request is
received, the complaint must be brought to trial within 180 days, unless an extension of
time is granted by the court, or no Kansas court has jurisdiction over the complaint and
the untried complaint must be dismissed with prejudice under K.S.A. 22-4303.

3. As a general rule, criminal statutes must be strictly construed in favor of the accused. Any
reasonable doubt as to the meaning of the statute is decided in favor of the accused.
Nevertheless, the rule of strict construction is subordinate to the rule that judicial
interpretation must be reasonable and sensible to effect legislative design and intent.

4. Under K.S.A. 22-4303, it does not matter whether a trial continuance has been requested
by the defendant or by the State. Under the plain language of the statute, any trial
continuance granted by the court extends the 180-day deadline for commencing a trial
under the UMDDA provided that the defendant's attorney received notice of the
continuance request and an opportunity to be heard.

5. An appellate court reviewing a district court's failure to give a particular jury instruction
applies a clearly erroneous standard where a party neither suggested an instruction nor
objected to its omission. Instructions are clearly erroneous only if the reviewing court is
firmly convinced that there is a real possibility the jury would have rendered a different
verdict if the trial error had not occurred.

6. Under the facts of this case, the district court's jury instructions on theft were not clearly
erroneous.

7. When reviewing a district court's decision to admit evidence, an appellate court first
determines whether the evidence is relevant. Once relevance is established, an appellate
court must apply the evidentiary rules governing the admission and exclusion of evidence
as a matter of law or in the exercise of the district court's discretion, depending on the
contours of the evidentiary rule in question.

8. To preserve an evidentiary issue for appeal, a party must make a timely and specific
objection to the admission of the evidence.

9. Generally, a party may not object at trial to the admission of evidence on one ground and
then on appeal argue a different ground.

10. Cumulative trial errors, when considered collectively, may be so great as to require
reversal of the defendant's conviction. The test is whether the totality of circumstances
substantially prejudiced the defendant and denied him or her a fair trial. No prejudicial
error may be found upon this cumulative effect rule, however, if the evidence is
overwhelming against the defendant.

MALONE, J.: Wayne Watson appeals his conviction of theft of property valued between
$1,000 and $25,000. Watson claims: (1) The district court violated his right to a speedy trial
under the Uniform Mandatory Disposition of Detainers Act (UMDDA), K.S.A. 22-4301 et
seq.;
(2) the district court's jury instructions on theft were clearly erroneous; (3) the district court erred
in admitting evidence at trial; and (4) Watson was denied a fair trial because of cumulative errors.

On October 28, 2005, Arick Galloway, a foreman for Stainless Steel Systems (Stainless
Steel), located in Hutchinson, drove through Stainless Steel's yard and noticed that some items
were missing. The missing items included used equipment which a Stainless Steel customer
wanted rebuilt. Galloway called Greg Roepka, the owner of Stainless Steel, and told him about
the missing equipment.

Roepka called the police. He also called Matt Mayo at Midwest Iron and Metal
(Midwest), a local salvage yard, and asked Mayo to call him if anyone attempted to sell the
missing equipment. Shortly thereafter, Watson arrived at Midwest in a truck carrying equipment
that matched Roepka's description of the stolen property. Because Watson wanted to sell the
equipment as scrap, Mayo weighed Watson's truck and its contents and then called Roepka and
the police.

Hutchinson police officers arrived at Midwest and observed a large steel item in the bed of
Watson's truck. The officers photographed the tire treads of Watson's truck. Police officers went
to Stainless Steel's yard and discovered tire tracks near the location where the missing equipment
had been stored. The officers also photographed these tire tracks.

Roepka had previously taken photographs of the used equipment in May 2005. Comparing
his May 2005 photographs with the equipment recovered from Watson's truck, Roepka
determined that it was the equipment stolen from Stainless Steel's yard. Additionally, the
equipment in Watson's truck matched the "footprint" the missing equipment had left in the ground
at Stainless Steel's yard. Galloway also identified the equipment in Watson's truck as the missing
equipment.

On November 4, 2005, the State charged Watson with one count of theft of property
valued between $1,000 and $25,000 in violation of K.S.A. 21-3701(a)(1). At the time the
complaint was filed, Watson was in the custody of the Kansas Department of Corrections on a
parole violation.

On February 3, 2006, Watson filed a document under the UMDDA requesting that he be
brought to trial on the theft charge. Watson was transported to Reno County and received
appointed counsel. On March 30, 2006, Watson requested a continuance of the jury trial which
was set for April 11, 2006. The district court granted the request and continued the jury trial to
May 23, 2006. On May 22, 2006, Watson again requested a continuance of the jury trial. The
district court granted the request and continued the jury trial to August 29, 2006. On that date,
the district court continued the jury trial to October 3, 2006. There is no indication in the record
who requested the final continuance or whether any hearing was held before the district court
granted the continuance.

On August 7, 2006, Watson filed a pro se motion for dismissal. In the motion, he argued
that the criminal case against him should be dismissed because 180 days had passed since he filed
his UMDDA application. There is no indication in the record that the district court ever ruled on
this motion.

A jury trial commenced on October 3, 2006, and the jury found Watson guilty as charged.
On December 1, 2006, the district court sentenced Watson to a presumptive imprisonment term
of 14 months. Watson timely appeals.

Speedy trial under the UMDDA

Watson claims his speedy trial rights were violated because his case was not brought to
trial within 180 days of his UMDDA application. Watson acknowledges that he requested two
separate jury trial continuances which extended the commencement of the trial beyond 180 days
after his UMDDA application was filed. However, Watson argues that the delays caused by his
continuance requests should not be attributable to him because he did not specifically waive his
rights to a speedy trial under the UMDDA when he requested the continuances.

This court has unlimited review of both statutory and constitutional rights to a speedy trial
since both rights concern questions of law. State v. Mann, 274 Kan. 670, 697-98, 56
P.3d 212
(2002). Moreover, the interpretation of a statute is a question of law over which an appellate
court has unlimited review. An appellate court is not bound by the district court's interpretation of
a statute. State v. Bryan, 281 Kan. 157, 159, 130 P.3d 85 (2006).

The UMDDA allows persons imprisoned in Kansas to request final disposition of other
Kansas charges pending against them. K.S.A. 22-4301 et seq.; In re Habeas
Corpus Application
of Sweat, 235 Kan. 570, 573-74, 684 P.2d 347 (1984). According to the UMDDA, once a
prisoner's detainer request is received, the complaint must be brought to trial within 180 days or
no Kansas court has jurisdiction over that complaint and the untried complaint must be dismissed
with prejudice. K.S.A. 22-4303.

However, the UMDDA provides for extensions of the 180-day deadline for commencing a
trial under the Act. K.S.A. 22-4303 states, in relevant part:

"Within one hundred eighty (180) days after the receipt of the request and
certificate by
the court and county attorney or within such additional time as the court for good cause
shown in
open court may grant, the prisoner or his counsel being present, the indictment, information
or
complaint shall be brought to trial; but the parties may stipulate for a continuance or a
continuance may be granted on notice to the attorney of record and opportunity for him to be
heard." (Emphasis added.)

As a general rule, criminal statutes must be strictly construed in favor of the accused. Any
reasonable doubt as to the meaning of the statute is decided in favor of the accused. Nevertheless,
the rule of strict construction is subordinate to the rule that judicial interpretation must be
reasonable and sensible to effect legislative design and intent. State v. Snow, 282
Kan. 323, 340-41, 144 P.3d 729 (2006).

The parties do not dispute that Watson properly invoked his speedy trial rights under the
UMDDA. Although the record does not reflect when the State actually received Watson's
UMDDA application, the State accepts February 3, 2006, as the date the speedy trial clock began
to run. Watson's trial was originally set for April 11, 2006, which fell within the 180-day statutory
time period. Watson's trial, however, was not commenced until October 3, 2006, more than 180
days after Watson invoked the UMDDA. The issue is whether Watson's trial deadline was
properly extended as provided in K.S.A. 22-4303.

Watson acknowledges that he requested two separate jury trial continuances which
extended the commencement of the trial beyond 180 days after his UMDDA application was filed.
However, Watson argues that the delays caused by his continuance requests should not be
attributable to him because he did not specifically waive his rights to a speedy trial under the
UMDDA when he requested the continuances. Watson cites State v. Brooks, 206
Kan. 418, 479
P.2d 893 (1971), to support this argument. Brooks, however, is not on point. In
Brooks, the
Kansas Supreme Court held that a defendant's failure to demand relief under the UMDDA
amounts to a waiver of the defendant's speedy trial rights under the Act. 206 Kan. at 421. The
court addressed whether the defendant had properly invoked his speedy trial rights under the
UMDDA, but the court did not address whether the trial deadline was properly extended as
provided in K.S.A. 22-4303. 206 Kan. at 421-22.

Contrary to Watson's argument, K.S.A. 22-4303 does not establish a firm deadline for
bringing a defendant to trial under the UMDDA. Although the statute establishes an initial
deadline of 180 days, K.S.A. 22-4303 further allows for "such additional time as the court for
good cause shown" may grant provided the defendant or his or her attorney are present in open
court. Furthermore, "a continuance may be granted on notice to the attorney of record" and an
opportunity for the attorney to be heard. K.S.A. 22-4303.

Under K.S.A. 22-3402, the general speedy trial statute, a defendant may waive the
statutory right to a speedy trial by requesting or acquiescing in the grant of a continuance.
However, continuances charged to the State are counted toward the speedy trial deadline.

Under K.S.A. 22-4303, it does not matter whether a trial continuance has been requested by
the
defendant or by the State. Under the plain language of the statute, any trial continuance granted
by the court extends the 180-day deadline for commencing a trial under the UMDDA provided
that the defendant's attorney received notice of the continuance request and an opportunity to be
heard.

Here, the speedy trial clock under the UMDDA began to run on February 3, 2006. The 55
days that passed between February 3, 2006, and March 30, 2006, are counted toward the speedy
trial deadline. However, Watson requested trial continuances on March 30, 2006, and May 22,
2006, which continued the trial setting to August 29, 2006. The record reflects that these
continuance requests were addressed in open court with counsel present. The journal entries filed
with the district court indicate that the court granted each continuance request after "hearing the
arguments of counsel." Pursuant to K.S.A. 22-4303, these trial continuances were properly
granted and the delays are not counted toward the speedy trial deadline. However, there is no
evidence in the record that Watson or his attorney received notice and had an opportunity to be
heard on the trial continuance from August 29, 2006, to October 3, 2006. Thus, these 35 days are
also counted toward the speedy trial deadline under the UMDDA.

Under these calculations, Watson was brought to trial within 90 days of his UMDDA
application, which is within the UMDDA's limitation of 180 days. Therefore, Watson's statutory
right to a speedy trial under the UMDDA was not violated.

Jury instructions on theft

Next, Watson claims the district court clearly erred in instructing the jury on theft. Watson
argues that Jury Instruction Nos. 7, 9, and 10 were misleading because they implied that he could
be found guilty of theft under K.S.A. 21-3701(a)(1) if he merely possessed the stolen property.
Possession of property knowing it to have been stolen by another is a violation of K.S.A.
21-3701(a)(4). Watson did not object to these instructions at trial.

An appellate court reviewing a district court's failure to give a particular jury instruction
applies a clearly erroneous standard where a party neither suggested an instruction nor objected to
its omission. See K.S.A. 22-3414(3); State v. Cooperwood, 282 Kan. 572, 581, 147
P.3d 125
(2006). "'Instructions are clearly erroneous only if the reviewing court is firmly convinced that
there is a real possibility the jury would have rendered a different verdict if the trial error had not
occurred. [Citations omitted.]'" State v. Trotter, 280 Kan. 800, 805, 127 P.3d 972
(2006).

Jury Instruction No. 7 given by the district court mirrored the theft instruction provided in
PIK Crim. 3d 59.01. The instruction stated:

"The defendant is charged with the crime of theft of property of the value of at
least
$1,000.00 but less than $25,000.00. The defendant pleads not guilty.

"To establish this charge, each of the following claims must be proved:

"1. That Greg Roepka is the owner of the property;

"2. That the defendant obtained unauthorized control over the property;

"3. That the defendant intended to deprive Greg Roepka permanently of the use or
benefit of the property;

"4. That the value of the property was at least $1,000.00 but less than $25,000.00;
and

"5. That this act occurred on or about the 28th day of October, 2005 in Reno
County,
Kansas."

Jury Instruction No. 9 was substantially the same as Jury Instruction No. 7 and merely
explained that the jury could convict Watson of the lesser included offense of theft of property
valued less than $1,000. Jury Instruction No. 10 stated: "Obtains or exerts control over property
includes, but is not limited to the taking, carrying away, or the sale, conveyance, or transfer of
title to, interest in, or possession of property." (Emphasis added.) This instruction is
the exact
definition of "obtains or exerts control" stated in K.S.A. 21-3110(12). Moreover, PIK Crim. 3d
53.00 directs district courts to this statute for the definition of obtains or exerts control.

Focusing on the words "possession of property" from Jury Instruction No. 10, Watson
argues Jury Instruction Nos. 7, 9, and 10 were misleading because together they implied that the
jury could convict Watson of theft under K.S.A. 21-3701(a)(1) if he merely possessed the stolen
property. Watson argues that because he was charged with theft in violation of K.S.A.
21-3701(a)(1), the State was required to prove that Watson was actually the person who took the
property from Stainless Steel. It was not enough for the jury to decide that Watson was in
possession of stolen property at the time he was arrested. According to Watson, the jury
instructions given in his case "do not make this subtle but critical distinction clear."

Watson does not clearly explain how the district court's instructions could have misled the
jury. At one point he argues: "The 'taking' of property from the owner is an element of the crime
of theft" and that he was entitled to have the jury make a decision that he was guilty of that
element. This is incorrect. The "taking" of property from the owner is not an element of the crime
of theft under K.S.A. 21-3701(a)(1). See PIK Crim. 3d 59.01. All that is required is the
unauthorized control, coupled with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the use or
benefit of the property. State v. Kunellis, 276 Kan. 461, 469, 78 P.3d 776 (2003).

Contrary to Watson's argument, Jury Instruction No. 10 did not imply that a jury could
convict him of theft under K.S.A. 21-3701(a)(1) if he merely possessed the stolen property. The
jury instruction stated that Watson could obtain or exert control over property by (1) taking it; (2)
carrying it away; (3) selling, conveying, or transferring title to it; (4) selling, conveying, or
transferring interest in it; or (5) selling, conveying, or transferring possession of it.

The jury instructions given by the district court mirrored the statutory definitions of theft
found at K.S.A. 21-3701(a)(1) and of obtains or exerts control at K.S.A. 21-3110(12). The
district court also followed the recommended PIK instructions on theft. Moreover, the district
court's definition of obtains or exerts control did not raise the confusion Watson claims it raised.
We conclude the district court's jury instructions on theft were not clearly erroneous.

Admission of evidence

Next, Watson claims there were several instances where the district court erred in
admitting evidence at his trial. When reviewing a district court's decision to admit evidence, an
appellate court first determines whether the evidence is relevant. Once relevance is established, an
appellate court must apply the evidentiary rules governing the admission and exclusion of
evidence as a matter of law or in the exercise of the district court's discretion, depending on the
contours of the evidentiary rule in question. State v. Gunby, 282 Kan. 39, 47-48, 144
P.3d 647
(2006).

Watson first argues the district court erred in allowing Officer Michael Kaufman to give
opinion testimony regarding whether tire tracks left at Stainless Steel matched the tire treads on
Watson's truck. Kaufman testified that the police photographed the tire treads of Watson's truck
and the police also photographed tire tracks at Stainless Steel's yard near the location where the
missing equipment had been stored. According to Kaufman, the tire markings in the two sets of
photographs were a match.

However, Watson failed to properly preserve this issue for appeal by making a
contemporaneous objection to the evidence at trial. Kaufman testified two times that the tire
tracks from Stainless Steel's yard matched the tire treads of Watson's truck. Watson, however,
failed to object at either of these points during Kaufman's testimony. Watson only objected when
Kaufman was explaining what the pictures in the various photographs depicted. To preserve an
evidentiary issue for appeal, a party must make a timely and specific objection to the admission of
the evidence. K.S.A. 60-404; State v. Anthony, 282 Kan. 201, 206, 145 P.3d 1
(2006).

Moreover, Watson only objected to Kaufman's testimony at trial on the ground that
Kaufman was not qualified as an expert witness on tire tracks. The only issue Watson has raised
on appeal is that Kaufman's testimony constituted inadmissible opinion testimony. Generally, a
party may not object at trial to the admission of evidence on one ground and then on appeal argue
a different ground. State v. Engelhardt, 280 Kan. 113, 127, 119 P.3d 1148 (2005).

Next, Watson argues that the district court erred in admitting evidence that Stainless Steel
was the victim of other thefts. At trial, Roepka testified that several items had been stolen from
Stainless Steel's yard on prior occasions. Once again, however, Watson failed to object at trial to
most of this evidence. As previously mentioned, to preserve an issue for appeal, a party must
make a timely and specific objection to the admission of the evidence at trial. K.S.A. 60-404;
Anthony, 282 Kan. at 206.

The only question that Watson did object to concerning prior thefts was whether Roepka
recognized other items in Midwest's scrap pile that belonged to Stainless Steel. However, the
district court sustained Watson's objection to this question and, in fact, Roepka did not answer the
question. Thus, contrary to Watson's claim on appeal, the evidence was not admitted at trial.

Next, Watson claims the district court erred in admitting evidence regarding the future
value of the stolen property. Roepka testified the stolen equipment was worth approximately
$5,000 on the date it was stolen. Roepka also testified that the equipment would be worth
between $10,000 and $15,000 by the time he was finished rebuilding it. He further testified that it
would cost $100,000 to rebuild the entire "group of equipment" that included the stolen item.
Roepka continued to testify, over Watson's objection, that the value of the equipment at the time
of trial was far more than it was a year earlier when the theft was committed.

The State argues the testimony was relevant "as it aided the jury in understanding Mr.
Roepka's business and how his business operated as well as the importance and value of the piece
of stolen equipment." Contrary to the State's claims, however, evidence of the estimated future
value of the stolen equipment was clearly irrelevant to show the value of the equipment Watson
was accused of stealing. Thus, the district court erred in admitting this testimony.

Nevertheless, it is clear that the error was harmless. Roepka testified the equipment was
worth approximately $5,000 on the date it was stolen. Watson did not dispute this testimony, and
it was the lowest value of the stolen equipment offered at trial. The jury convicted Watson of
stealing property valued between $1,000 and $25,000. Thus, Roepka's testimony about the future
value of the equipment, including his testimony that it would cost $100,000 to rebuild the entire
group of equipment that included the stolen item, did not affect the outcome of the trial.

Cumulative errors

Finally, Watson claims he was denied a fair trial because of cumulative errors.

"'Cumulative trial errors, when considered collectively, may be so great as to
require
reversal of the defendant's conviction. The test is whether the totality of circumstances
substantially prejudiced the defendant and denied him a fair trial. No prejudicial error may be
found upon this cumulative effect rule, however, if the evidence is overwhelming against the
defendant. [Citation omitted.]'" State v. Davis, 283 Kan. 569, 583, 158 P.3d 317
(2007) (quoting
State v. Ackward, 281 Kan. 2, 29, 128 P.3d 382 [2006]).

As we have discussed, the district court only committed one harmless error in this case by
admitting Roepka's testimony about the estimated future value of the stolen equipment. Generally,
one error is insufficient to support reversal under the cumulative error rule. Anthony,
282 Kan. at
217. Thus, Watson's cumulative error claim fails. An accused is entitled to a fair trial, not a
perfect one. State v. Broyles, 272 Kan. 823, 842, 36 P.3d 259 (2001).